London's Air Ambulance Charity is proud to celebrate the achievements of John Power, our Chief Fire Officer, who has marked an incredible 30 years of service with the organisation.
John is our longest-serving member of staff and throughout his three decades of service, he has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety and well-being of his colleagues and the communities they serve in times of crisis. His dedication to excellence and passion for making a difference have left an indelible mark on the medics, pilots and colleagues that he continues to work alongside.
Members of the helipad fire crew play a crucial role in ensuring the helicopter can take off effectively when the team are dispatched, monitoring external hazards and working with the pilots to ensure maximum levels of safety. As a mission is ongoing, the team will monitor the medics, pilots and aircraft remotely from our helipad operations room atop The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
His expertise in fire and rescue operations has been instrumental in the service’s operations, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care under the most challenging circumstances.
Since joining the charity in April 1994, John has been an integral part of the team, supporting life-saving missions across London every day. Charity analysis suggests that during John’s 30 years he has worked an estimated 5,250 shifts, equating to around 57,750 hours on duty for London. He has been involved in the safe dispatch of our helicopter on approximately 8,662 patient missions. On top of this he has also hosted around 5,000 helipad visits and helped raise thousands for the charity taking part in four marathons, one 10k and one abseil.
His value to the charity goes far beyond his professional skillset: his support as a colleague and friend is appreciated and valued by hundreds of charity and operational staff at London’s Air Ambulance Charity.
Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said:
“Our people are at the heart of everything we do here at London’s Air Ambulance Charity and for the last 30 years, there is no one who has exemplified that ethos more than John Power.
“As a friend, colleague and public servant, he has been fundamental in helping our service grow and played a crucial role in saving lives across our city.
“On behalf of everyone at London’s Air Ambulance Charity – past and present – who has worked alongside John, I’m proud to wish him a very happy 30th anniversary. Here’s to many more.”
